IYC Northern California Women's Sailing Seminar

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Women's Sailing Seminar 2020 agenda

The WSS weekend will feature classes tailored for both new and experienced sailors alike. With our new format, we'll be interacting virtually--and you can revisit our classes with our recorded sessions.

The agenda below is subject to change as we confirm our speakers and session content! Please subscribe to our email updates above for the latest.

Friday events

Time

Session

Instructors

Summary

7 - 8:30pm

Racer Chicks

Dawn Chesney,

Cindy Wagner,

Nathalie Criou &

Sandy Andersen Wertanen

Have a need for speed? Join everyday and next-level sailing athletes for an evening of storytelling and inspiration. Learn how you can increase your time on the water, build skills and reach your goals as a competitive sailor.

Saturday events

Time	Session	Instructors	Summary
8:00am	Welcome!	Melissa Grudin	Let’s start the day by reviewing our schedule together - welcome to WSS weekend!
8:00am - 8:55am	Yoga for Sailors	Julie Lucchesi	Join us for gentle exercises designed to maintain strength, flexibility and sailing fitness in key muscle groups. The ideal way to prepare you for a day of sailing and WSS!
9:00am - 10:25am	Sailing Terminology	Dawn Chesney & Lauren Eisele.	It isn't the "front and back of the boat"! A summary of important nautical terms (and a little history) for beginner sailors.
10:30am - 11:55am	Essential Knots and Situational Awareness	Alice Watts & Laura Parent	Practical knots and line-handling skills for beginner and intermediate sailors.
12:00pm - 12:55pm	Watercolor Workshop	Margaret Fago	Learn techniques and creative skills for capturing the beauty and dynamism of sailing and water scenes.
1:00pm - 2:25pm	Seamanship	Christine Weaver & Marianne Armand	How to maneuver around other boats, prepare for when things go wrong--and plan an enjoyable daysail on San Francisco Bay.
2:30pm - 3:55pm	Racing Skills	Nathalie Criou & Emily Zugnoni	Learn the essential techniques and strategies to performance sailing. Have the skills and mindset to win!
4:00pm	Raffle	WSS team	Win exciting prizes, including sailing lessons, experiences and holiday gifts! Buy your raffle tickets up until 3pm PT on Saturday at: iyc.org/raffle

Sunday events

Time	Session	Instructors	Summary
8:00am	Welcome!	Melissa Grudin	What’s in store? Let’s review our schedule and get ready for Day 2!
8:00am - 8:55am	Yoga for Sailors	Anja Castner	Gentle exercises for maintaining strength, flexibility and sailing fitness in key muscle groups.
9:15am - 9:55am	Keynote: Family Cruising Around the World	Behan Gifford, Sailing Totem (sailingtotem.com)	Behan of Sailing Totem will share an uplifting session on what it takes to make the change to full-time cruising - all while managing family and a professional career!
10:00am - 11:25am	Panel: Dress for Success / Destinations on San Francisco Bay	Amanda Webber & Kira Maixner	Are you ready to play on the bay? Stay warm and look great with our team's advice on making sure you have the right gear for all weather conditions.
11:25pm - 11:55am	Coffee break
Noon - 1:25pm	Panel: From Crew to Captain	Zara Haimo, Maddie Richards, Lauren Eisele, Janet Frankel & Margaret Spencer	Want to attain experience and perhaps even get licensed? Learn from our panel, who have made sailing a big part of their lives - for both business and pleasure!
1:30pm - 2:55pm	Panel: International Liveaboards in Changing Times	Lindsay Dreibelbis, Behan Gifford, Nancy Hird, Vandy Shrader & Virginia Gleser	Enjoy lunch while learning about living on the water during a particularly turbulent year! From hurricanes and COVID, we've faced - and overcome - the challenges that have blown our way.
3:00pm	Closing remarks and gratitude	WSS team	Thank you for making WSS 2020 a success!

Treat a friend with a WSS e-Gift Card!

Give the gift of sailing education, with online gift credit for WSS 2021.

Buy a gift card

Catch up on our storytelling nights

Women's Storytelling Night #1

Monday, Sept 18
Theme: "Mother Nature"
Featuring storytellers: Linda Newland, Behan Gifford, Julie Lucchesi, Kira Maixner, Yosh Han

Watch on youTube

Women's Storytelling Night #2

Monday, Oct. 19 @ 7pm
Theme: "The Lighter Side"
Featuring storytellers: Lauren Knoebel, Zara Haimo, Joanne Bonds, Lindsay Dreilbas, Heidi Benson Stagg

Watch on YouTube

Meet our Founder: Linda Newland

Linda Newland joins the 28th annual IYC Women's Sailing Seminar as a founder, speaker, committee member and storyteller.

In our first of two WSS 2020 storytelling sessions, Linda shared her experience skippering from Hawai'i to San Francisco - including false starts, battles against big seas and a budding friendship between two very adventurous female sailors.

View video, transcript & photos

About the Women's Sailing Seminar

The Annual Women’s Sailing Seminar is organized and taught by women for women.

It started more than 25 years ago by Mary Quigley and Linda Newland who thought: “We need a workshop where women can learn about sailing from other women!”

The success of the seminar over the decades, empowering hundreds of women to enjoy the most fabulous sport of all, speaks for itself. Come join our incredible community of women sailors.

Please read our WSS Terms of Purchase and Code of Conduct.

Previous highlights:

Adventure Wave - Worldwide Sailing
Alameda Community Sailing Center
Bow Yoga
Pineapple Sails
Renegade Sailing
Club Nautique
Law Offices of Janet L. Frankel

Media kit

Women's Sailing Seminar 2020 Press Release